The Acid Test - Why Patience Is The Key To Success

I started my FM 2016 Everton Career Mode adamant about one thing; I would not sell John Stones, Ross Barkley or Romelu Lukaku.

In practice this was easier said than done. Just 20 minutes after starting, Chelsea had already come in with a tempting offer for Stones and, somewhat akin to Gollum from Lord of the Rings, I began entertaining some dark thoughts... 'SELL HIM, think of all the money you'll have. Think of all the semi-useless squad players £30 million could get you.'

But no, I held firm and, after rejecting the chance to take part in all that deadline day mumbo jumbo, I went into the start of the 15/16 season with a squad which - despite only one loan addition - looked very solid indeed.

Now half-way through my 3rd season, I feel it is a good time to reflect upon how this nurturing approach has turned out... and, to be honest, it couldn't be better. Just take a look at how the aforementioned 'un-sellable trio' have developed:

John Stones

Stones' Original Stats.

As you can see, several of Stones' key attributes - including Heading, Marking and Positioning - have improved, allowing him to take over from Phil Jagielka at the heart of my defence.

Ross Barkley

Barkley's Original Stats.

Barkley's valuation has shot up from £26M to £32.5M in just 2 seasons. His 4-and-a-half star ranking puts him in the same ability bracket as the likes of David Silva.

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku's Original Stats.

Out of the trio, it's Lukaku who's made the most impressive rise. Already in double figures for the third straight season, he's attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona.

Of course the proven potential of these players means it costs an awful lot of money to keep them at the club. Lukaku's weekly wages are now over £100K more than he originally earnt. Nevertheless, the sudden influx of TV money at the start of the 16/17 season means that I can comfortably afford to pay my best players that kind of sum.

Wheter it's to balance the books or fund some much needed team re-building, it's sometimes inevitable that you'll have to sell a key player. However, bare in mind that, if you can struggle your way through a rocky 15/16 season, keeping your top stars can come with great reward.

That's all from me for now! Don't forget to leave a comment below and, until next time, enjoy playing FM 2016.